Military Life vs. Student Life: Advising Methods to Lessen the Culture Shock

1. Military Life vs. Student Life: Advising Methods to Lessen the Culture Shock Jackie McReynolds Washington State University Vancouver

2. Some Simple Facts: • Expect a significant wave of military veterans leaving service to pursue a degree • Most recent GI Bill (post 9-11) allows veterans to attend state colleges • There is a disconnect between military life and academic life (culture shock) • Many (but not all) will have disabilities that are not reported to University personnel • Historically high drop-out rates (88%); low graduation rates (3%)

3. Who Are Military Students? • Both male & female, all ages • Some have been deployed into combat zones • Some are national guard personnel • Some are still on active duty • Some joined the military for the benefits • Some were successful in high school; some not • Some don’t see college as part of their “life mission”

5. Common Characteristics • Show drive and initiative • Mission- and task-oriented • Have leadership qualities • Possess a team mentality • Value accountability and loyalty • Have immense resilience • Can follow complex directions • Tend to be very resilient

6. What are Common Barriers? • Physical and/or mental limitations • Financial concerns • Work/family/school conflicts • Lack of awareness of resources (25% access services and benefits) • Unwilling to ask for help or admit need • Uncertainty of goals/plans • Don’t feel they fit in with less mature students

7. Why Avoid Seeking Help? • Fear of the unknown • Procrastination • Fear of making a mistake • Feeling overwhelmed • Relies too much on the opinion of others • Don’t want to stick out; perceived stigma • Don’t believe they qualify for accommodation

8. Advocate for CLEP Testing • Active duty military can take CLEP tests at no cost to them • Can move students more quickly into advanced-level classes • These are funded for • Military personnel (active, reserve, National Guard) & spouses and civilian employees several military branches (Air Force and Army Reserve, Air and Army National Guard, active and reserve Coast Guard) College Board (2013). CLEP for Military. http://clep.collegeboard.org/military

9. The Culture Clash

10. Actions to Avoid • Do not fake interest or your own experience • Do not say you understand how they feel • Do not assume that their experience was horrible for them • Do not assume that they need mental health services • Do be direct and directive • Do be dependable and authentic

11. Use Motivational Interviewing • Help them create a new identity and goals by: • Finding out what is going well • Discussing how they’ve been able to resolve problems and handle difficulties • Discover what they like about themselves and what others seem to admire in them • Talk about what they like to do and what they can do well • Help them create goals and design steps toward those goals (develop a life mission)

12. Preparing for Military Students • Create a single point of contact (Vet Corp Rep) • Dedicate a “safe place” • Organize a military student club • Advise using a more prescriptive technique • Provide peer mentors • Require periodic check-ins on progress • Refer to campus/community resources

13. Connecting with Community Resources • Learn to use the 2-1-1 system • 2-1-1 is the human services hotline number • On the web: www.211info.org • Text: text zip code to 898211 • Vet Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255

14. Finding 2-1-1 • http://www.unitedwaync.org/sites/unitedwaync.org/files/imagefield_thumbs/image_gallery/2-1-1CoverageMap-October2011.jpg

15. Conclusion • Focus on three key principles of care: • 1. Identify, appreciate, and become culturally competent to work with military students. • 2. Offer assessment and treatment within the campus counseling center, if appropriate, and other types of administrative support. • 3. Increase the quantity and quality of outreach programming (i.e., resources, faculty mentors, support groups, gathering space) There’s work to be done!

16. Resources • http://maketheconnection.net/ (stories) • http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ (resources) • http://www.socialworkers.org/military.asp (guide to helping) • http://www.veteransunited.com/network/ (general resource for individuals/families) • http://www.operationhomefront.net/ (mutual aid/support organization) • http://www.combat2college (liaison program VA/College) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXIeI20tpSA (In Their Own Words, a documentary film by Esther Schwartz-McKinzie)

17. References • Bonar, T. and Domenici, P. (2011). Counseling and connecting with the military undergraduate: The intersection of military service and university life. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 25:204-219. • Burnett, S. and Segoria, J. (2009). Collaboration for military transition students from combat to college. Journal of Post-secondary Education and Disability, Vol. 22, No. 1. • Coll, J., Oh, H., Joyce, C. & Coll, L. (2009). Veterans in higher education: What every adviser may want to know. The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal. • Wilson, K. and Smith, N. (2012). Understanding the importance of life mission when advising soldiers. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education(136), 65-75.

18. Presenter Info • Jackie McReynolds, M.S. • Senior Instructor • Dept. of Human Development • Washington State University • Vancouver, WA 98686-9600 • 360.546.9740 • mcreynol@vancouver.wsu.edu